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Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series contains a number of ‘secret messages and digs’ aimed at her British royal in-laws, according to a PR expert, and ‘critics are seeing through it’
The Duchess of Sussex’s new Netflix series might have instantly become one of the most-watched new series of the year, but speculation about “subtle messages” about and to her British royal in-laws appear to have become the biggest takeaway. With Love, Meghan dropped on the streaming service last week and millions of intrigued viewers tuned in to see her swap lifestyle tips with celebrity friends such as actors Mindy Kaling and Abigail Spencer, and make-up artist Daniel Martin.
Branding expert Lynn Carratt, of Press Box PR, maintains that the show has been produced in such a way that it sends some very clear signals. “There are a few messages Meghan is clearly trying to convey in this documentary. She is trying to show herself as the perfect mum, the perfect and happiest wife, the perfect cook, the perfect host, the perfect friend. It’s all very carefully curated and aesthetically pleasing. Her subtle digs to the royal family, and to Kate and William perhaps in particular, seem to be, ‘Look at me, I’m happy thank you very much, living my picture-perfect Californian life, Harry and I made the right decision by quitting the royal family.’”
In the fifth episode of the wholesome show, with her best friend and former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, Abigail says, “We’ve all been through a lot,” before turning to Meghan, in what‘s been perceived by some as another dig at Meghan’s time with the royal family.
In the final instalment of the eight episodes, we see the duchess host a finale brunch for her friends, as well as husband Prince Harry, 40, and her mum, Doria Ragland. She uses the opportunity to officially introduce her new lifestyle brand As Ever, saying it marked a “new chapter”, which has been perceived by some as a very clear signal that she’s closing the book on her royal life. “And here we go, there’s a business!” she toasts. “All of that is part of that creativity that I’ve missed so much, so thank you for loving me so much and celebrating with me.”
While tasting her final dish, Meghan also comments, “It tastes like home, and I’ve missed California,” leaving viewers with no doubt about where she sees herself living, despite ongoing speculation about a possible return to the UK.
PR expert Lynn believes there are some very obvious links to be made between Meghan’s words and her experience as a working royal. “She says she likes having her creativity back, her freedom – perhaps that’s a secret message to the royals because of course, in the monarchy, her freedom would have been stilted,” she tells us.
“It’s all protocols and age-old traditions – and as we subsequently discovered, that didn’t sit well with Meghan. She had her creative side as an actress, she had her blog The Tig which she had to close down… She had to give up a lot of that old life to become a part of Harry’s life in The Firm.”
In an earlier episode, Meghan also talks about being broken, fractured and healing. Chatting to Vicky Tsai, the millionaire co-founder of a Japanese skincare brand, she appears to allude to her time as a working royal, when she was part of the so-called “Fab Four” with Kate Middleton and Prince William. “You gave me this idea, I think it’s so meaningful, that if you break something that is precious and valuable, it’s not broken,” she says to Vicky, as they talk about Kintsugi, the Japanese craft of repairing broken pottery.
“That fracture actually makes it more beautiful… I just think that it felt really symbolic of saying to anyone if you’ve been through something, you’re not broken. It can be fixed, it can be sealed and healed at the same time.”
The subject of Meghan and Harry – and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – keeping their royal titles has been hotly debated, since they stepped back as working royals and moved to the States in 2020.
Lynn suggests it’s telling that a comment on the topic of her Sussex name was kept in the final edit. “She seems to enjoy the idea of being a royal when it suits her. She is very swift to correct Mandy Kaling in the programme on her correct surname, saying, ‘You know I’m Sussex now’ – a title bestowed to her by the English royal family.
“I think, were she to do more of this ilk, she needs to stay away from these depictions of the perfect idyllic life because that’s not real life for anyone – and viewers and critics are seeing through it,” Lynn says.
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